Retaining wall



6, 1946. a... CARDWELL 2,

RETAINING WALL Filed Ma'rch 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L- CARDWELL RETAINING WALL Filed March 7, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 L. CARDWELL RETAINING WALL Filed March 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jio dlra we/l Patented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETAINING WALL 1 Lloyd Cardwell, Oak Park, Ill.

Application March 7, 1945, Serial No. 581,429

- 11 Claims. l Attempts to devise retaining walls made of metal have run to complications, unnecessary weight, and multiple fastenings to such an extent as to fairly defeat the purpose because of the cost of manufacture, the cost of shipping and handling, and the cost of erecting.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome the inherent objections to prior constructions; and, generally speaking, this is accomplished by making the columns of readily formed,'interlocking members interlocked with a readily formed stringers and top members, all of which are light, strong, easily assembled on the site and made fast by a few simple, handy fastenings.

In the drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the retaining wall;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line s 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic section illustrating the general arrangement of the retaining wall, the anchor system, and the fill to be retained;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of portions of the column members and the top members slightly displaced to indicate their relations in assembling;

Fig. 6 i a similar view of portions of the bottom of the column members;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing the single fastening between column members, top members, and anchor systems;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of an end of a stringer;

Fig-9 is a slight modification of one of the arms on the front column members; and

' Fig. 10 is a modified form of wedge key used with the arms shown in Fig. 9 to make the stringers fast.

But these particular drawings and the specific description hereafter made are used for the purpose of disclosure only, and are not intended to impose unnecessary limitations on the claims.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will appear that the re-' taining wall is made of columns generally indicated by A, with stringers generally indicated by B, and top members generally indicated by C extending between adjacent columns.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that each column A includes a front member Ill, a back member II, and two side members [2. The

side members are of general channel form having side flanges l3. In assembling, they are placed back to back, as shown in Fig. 3, with their flanges l3 projecting in opposite directions along the line of the wall. I

The back member II has its side portions turned into hook-shaped flanges it, which receive, interlock with, and make fast the rear flanges it of the two side members I 2.

The front member 10 has its sides turned to form similar flanges I 5, which in like manner receive, interlock, and make fast the front flanges i3 of the two side member l2. This assembly is made by sliding the respective parts endwise with respect to those with which they are to be interlocked.

Each stringer B, as appears most clearly in Fig. 2, has a top flange l6 and a bottom flange I1 substantially horizontal. Adjacent to these flanges are a top flat portion l8 and a bottom flat portion l9 at the-front of each stringer. Between those portions and at the back of each stringer is a thirdflat portion 20 connected to the portions l8 and I9 by inclined portions 2|, here shown as at 45 degrees with respect to them. Thus each stringer B is a flat plate forming a longitudinal channel, the channel having a bottom 20 and two inclined sides 2 I.

' In assembly with adjacent columns, the ends of the stringers are brought into the relation shown best in'Fig. 3, where end portions, marked generally 22, of adjacent stringers are shown in the channel spaces 23 of the columns and resting against the flanges IE on the front column member.

The stringers are made fast in this position by cutting away or recessing'each fiat portion 20 adjacent to the end of the stringer preferably to form a slot 24 through which projects an arm or tongue 25 formed by an intermediate portion of the metal'otherwise used to form the flanges l5, and a key 26, shown as wedge shaped, is inserted through an opening 21 in that portion of the arm 25 that passes through the stringer toward the inside of the retaining wall.

The arms 25 are inherently somewhat yielding and, the parts of the wall being somewhat free to move, there is no difficulty in getting the stringers into the position shown with the arms 25 projecting through the slots 24.

The width of the channels 23 in the post and the length'to which the stringers extend into it is a variable depending on design. They will have to be such as to permit the stringers to be assembled in the channels and-on the arms 24. In some instances, it willbe necessary to tilt the 3 stringers relative to the post, or, in the case of an end post, to turn the post.

When the keys 2B are entered and driven home, they make a tight, springy sort of connection between the stringers and the columns.

The number of stringers between adjacent columns is a matter of choice as well as the form of member a form consistent with and blending into' the appearance given by the stringers and columns. -At each end, the top member 28 has a down turned flange 3|, which is received in a pocket 32 in the adjacent side member 12 of the column formed by a slight offset-ting of the upper portion of the web. (See Fig, 5.)

As appears from Fig. 2, the flanges of the top member fit down on each side of the columns and overlap the topmost stringers B.

The top members in the columns may be secured together in a variety of ways, but, consistent with the simple scheme of construction, it is preferred to make them fast by a single bolt or rivet, which is also used to fasten the anchor system or guy. 7

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the anchor system includes anearth anchor 33 of frusto-conical shape having an axial opening to receive arod 34 made fast by a nut 35 on the inside of the anchor. The rod 34 is connected to another rod 36 by a turn buckle 31 by means of which the anchor system can be put under appropriate tension and adjusted. The rod 36 has an eye 38 receiving a shackle or clevi 319 including a bolt 48 (Figs. 2 and 7), which preferably not only completes the fastening of the anchor system to the wall but passes through the flanges 3| on top members C, the webs of the side column members I 2, and the arms of the clevis 39, and makes the whole fast. The bolt 40 is then made fast by a cotter M or any other suitable expedient.

Each column is provided with a relatively large base plate 42, shown here as a rectangular sheet having a slot 43 in the middle to receive perforated projections 44 at the bottom of the webs of the side column members l2. The base plate is made fast to the columns by a key 45 passed through the perforation or opening 46 in each of the projections 44. The key is preferably wedge shaped. in order to be self securing when driven into place.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be apparent that the wall is made up of simple forms that may be readily pressed out of galvanized sheet metal or the like in which the stringers rest upon each other and extend between adjacent columns with easily inserted fastenings holding them yieldingly in place until the earth makes themfinally fast, while the top members finish off. the upper portion of the wall andthe preferably single bolt makes them fast to the columns, at the same time securing the upper end of the guy or anchor system.

A slight variation in the wedge fastening for some, for reasons of their own,'will wish to assemble these parts on the job because they may see some advantage in shipping the column parts in nested packages somewhat like the panels and topmembers will form.

I claim:

1. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each including flanged front, back, and side members with adjacent flanges interlocked, corrugated columns having abutted by the forward surfaces of said stringersstringers between and overlapping adjacent columns, means to fasten the stringers to the columns, top members between adjacent columns having flanges overlapping column members, a guy, and a single fastener securing adjacent top members and column members and guy together.

2. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each having a rearwardly directed face and each having a plurality of vertically spaced arms extending rearwardly of said face, a plurality of stringers extending between each pair of consecutive columns, each of said stringers abutting said rear- Wardly presented faces of the columns and being cut away to clear said arms, and means rearward of said stringers acting between said arms and said stringers to secure the stringers to the columns.

3. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each having a rearwardly directed face and each having a plurality of vertically spaced arms extending rearwardly of said face, a plurality of stringers extending between each pair of consecutive columns, each of said stringers at its ends abutting said rearwardly presented faces of the columns and being recessed to receive said arms, and key means engaging said arms and abutting said stringers from the rear to retain the stringers in place.

4. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each having a rearwardly directed face and each having a plurality of vertically spaced arms extending rearwardly of said face, said arms having apertures, a plurality of stringers extending between each pair of consecutive columns, each of said stringers at its ends abutting said rearwardly presented faces of the columns and being recessed to receive said arms, and tapered keys wedged into said arm apertures against the rear surfaces of said stringers to secure the stringers in place.

5.,In a retaining wall, spaced columns and a plurality of stringers extending between each successive pair of said columns, each of said stringers forming a longitudinal channel with side walls, said columns having rearwardly presented faces abutted by the forward surfaces of said stringers and having tongues extending rearward into said channels to the rear of the stringers, the bottoms of said channels being cut away to clear said tongues, and key means engaging said tongues and abutting said stringers from the rear to hold the stringers in place.

6. In a retaining wall, spaced columns and a plurality of stringers interconnecting said columns, each of said stringers forming a longitudinal channel with convergent side walls, said rearwardly presented faces and having tongues extending rearward into said channels to the rear of the stringers, the bottoms of said channels being cut away to clear said tongues, said tongues having convergent edges abutting said channel side walls, and means engaging said tongues and engaging said stringers from the rear to hold the stringers in place.

7. In a retaining wall, spaced columns and stringers interconnecting said columns, each 'of said stringers forming a longitudinal channel with convergent side walls and a bottom wall, said columns having rearwardly presented faces abutted by the forward surfaces of said stringers and having tongues extending rearward into said channels, the bottom walls of said channels having slots to receive said tongues, said tongues having apertures rearward of said stringers, and key means extending through said tongue apertures rearward of the stringers to hold the stringers in place.

8. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each comprising a plurality of column members, a front column member included in said column members in each of said columns, each of said front column members having flanged marginal portions for holding the column members in assembled relationship, each of said front column members also having a plurality of spaced marginal portions in the form of rearwardly extending tongues, a plurality of stringers extending between each pair of consecutive columns, each of said stringers having a forward surface at each end abutting the columns, each of said stringers having an aperture to receive said tongues, and means engaging said tongues and engaging said stringers from the rear to hold the stringers in place.

9. In a retaining wall, spaced columns each comprising a plurality of column members, .a front column member included in said column through said tongues rearward of said stringers to hold the stringers in place.

10. In a retaining wall, groups of column members having lateral flanges for interengagement 1 whereby the members of the groups may be assembled into interlocked column units by relative longitudinal movement, at least one column member in each group having a plurality of arms, plurality of stringer members having apertures near their ends to receive said arms with the ends of the arms extending to the rear of the stringer members and the ends of the stringer members abutting assembled columns, and means to engage said arms rearward of the stringer members to hold the stringer members in place.

11. In a retaining Wall, groups of column members having lateral flanges for interengagement whereby the members of the groups may be assembled into interlocked column units by relative longitudinal movement, a plurality of stringer members interconnecting said column units, top members between adjacent column units, and means having the dual function of locking column members in each assembled column unit against relative longitudinal movement and connecting the ends of top members to the column unit.

LLOYD CARDWELL, 

